Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 5 | The Cliffside Engagement and the Price of Integrity | Novela.app

Chapter 5 - The Cliffside Engagement and the Price of Integrity For the past few days, Que Tang had been a solitary figure, walking to school and eating her lunch in lonely silence. That foolish cat of hers was currently living the high life at the Eldest Miss’s manor, gorging itself on premium dried fish imported from America. This betrayal was entirely Que Tang’s fault; in her haste to flee the scene after her dramatic "heartbroken" performance the other day, she had completely forgotten to take the feline with her. When she had frantically messaged the system to tell the cat to return, she received a reply that made her blood boil. "Don't worry about me, I’m doing quite well here," the cat’s voice echoed in her mind, sounding suspiciously smug. "There are mountains, there is water, and most importantly, there is an endless supply of dried fish. Her Ladyship, the Female Supporting Character, even built me a private 'Meow-Meow Playground' and bought an entire dried fish factory just for me. Meow~" "You traitor! You've succumbed to the evils of capitalism!" Que Tang gnashed her teeth in righteous indignation, though her inner monologue betrayed her. *Damn it, I’m so jealous!* "Her Ladyship is so generous, you really should stop playing hard to get," the cat advised, its tone dripping with feline wisdom. "Hurry up and complete the 'More than friends, less than lovers' capture mission. That way, you can get your raise, your promotion, become a CEO, and marry a 'White-Rich-Beautiful' lady. Then you can live a life of luxury and buy me even more fish. Meow~" "Where is your integrity...?" Que Tang’s face was a mask of deadpan disappointment. "Meow meow meow, meow meow meow..." The cat began to sing a popular, repetitive tune. "Stop singing *Little Apple*!" "Meow~ Going to eat fish now. Good luck on your own!" After that, no matter how much she called out, there was no response. Que Tang sighed, leaning against a school corridor wall. "Where did such an irresponsible system come from? Can I get a refund?" "No can do, Meow~" the system chirped one last time before falling silent. Several days passed without a peep from the cat. Then, one afternoon while Que Tang was napping, a sudden notification jolted her awake. "Meow~ The Male Lead’s Favorability and Romance Level for the Female Supporting Character have reached the maximum. Status: Until Death Do Us Part." "Huh? So sudden?" Que Tang sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Does that mean my mission is over? When can I go back?" "Because the Host told the Female Supporting Character that she wouldn't give up until the engagement, we have to wait until the ceremony is over. Meow~" With the cat gone, Que Tang’s meager savings had actually started to accumulate. On Friday, after finishing her part-time shift, she decided to treat herself. No more convenience store rice balls; she splurged on an expensive bento box she had been eyeing for weeks. Humming a light tune, she approached her apartment, only to see a familiar figure standing by her door. Her heart skipped a beat—not out of romance, but out of the sheer instinct to flee. She turned to run, but Qi Yunan was faster, catching her by the arm. "Que Tang." In an instant, Que Tang wiped the joy of the expensive bento from her face, replacing it with a mask of cold confusion. "Is there something you need, Senior Qi?" As she spoke, she felt the grip on her arm tighten significantly. Qi Yunan seemed to realize she was losing her composure, but she didn't let go. "I accepted Aotian’s confession. Our families are holding an engagement banquet tomorrow." *So that’s why the favorability maxed out,* Que Tang realized. But the show had to go on. "And? Did you come here just to gloat? *Senior. Qi.*" She spat out the last two words with practiced bitterness, playing the role of the jilted lover to perfection. Qi Yunan’s expression darkened. She pried open Que Tang’s palm and pressed something into it. "This is the invitation. I want you to see for yourself so you’ll stop pining after my boyfriend. You won't disappoint me, will you? You’ll come to our engagement." In Qi Yunan’s eyes, she saw Que Tang’s hand tremble as she withdrew it. The girl stared at the invitation with disbelief, turning her head away to hide her "tears." "I understand. If that’s all, I’m going inside." Que Tang was desperate to get home; her rice was getting cold, and she was starving. "Que Tang!" Qi Yunan shouted, a rare lapse in her refined etiquette. Que Tang didn't look back. "...Never mind. See you tomorrow." The next day, Que Tang arrived at the banquet wearing her school uniform. It was the only thing she owned other than jeans that looked remotely formal. Predictably, she was stopped at the gates of the sprawling estate. "I don't care where you got that invitation, but it certainly doesn't belong to you," Bodyguard A said, eyeing her uniform with disdain. "I told you, your Young Mistress gave it to me! Are you going to let me in or not?" Que Tang snapped. She didn't even want to be here; she’d rather be in bed waiting for the mission timer to hit zero. "No. For all I know, you stole it," the guard insisted. "Fine." Que Tang shrugged, ready to turn back. If she couldn't get in, the engagement would still happen, and the mission would still end, right? "Wait, Que Tang." "E-Eldest Miss!" The bodyguard stammered, bowing low. Qi Yunan ignored him, walking straight to Que Tang’s side. "I’ll bring her in." Que Tang followed silently, her eyes wandering over Qi Yunan’s attire. The Eldest Miss was wearing a midnight-blue silk gown with a daringly low neckline and an open back. Que Tang looked down at her own flat chest and sighed, turning her head away in mock sorrow. Qi Yunan led her all the way to her private bedroom and shut the door. "Senior Qi, what are you doing?" Que Tang asked, finally snapping out of her thoughts. She watched as Qi Yunan locked the door and began walking toward her with predatory grace. Que Tang backed up until her knees hit the edge of the bed, and she tumbled backward. Qi Yunan immediately loomed over her, pinning her down with hands on either side of her shoulders. Que Tang looked away uncomfortably. "Senior Qi, let me go." Seeing the girl’s flushed cheeks, Qi Yunan let out a soft, low laugh. She reached out, her fingers brushing Que Tang’s cheek. "Are you shy?" *Holy crap, since when did the female lead become so "evil-charming" and flirtatious? My female supporting character can't be this lacking in integrity!* Que Tang screamed internally, using her "tucao" skills to keep from panicking. "Meow~ Forgot to mention, the Female Supporting Character’s Blackening Value is now at 80," Xiao Xianggu’s voice suddenly chimed in. *Why didn't you say that sooner, you fish-obsessed, heartless cat?! I wouldn't have come if I knew!* "I’m just trying to create opportunities for you to capture her, Meow~" "Que Tang," Qi Yunan whispered, "what is so good about Ren Aotian?" "In my heart, he’s the best," Que Tang replied, sticking to the script. "I told you, as long as he isn't officially engaged, I won't give up." Qi Yunan’s face turned icy. "Don't worry. He’ll be engaged to me shortly. You can put those thoughts to rest." She reached out and began unbuttoning Que Tang’s school blazer. "Qi—Qi Yunan! What are you doing? Stop!" Que Tang panicked, her acting forgotten as she fought a desperate battle for her virtue. But how could a shut-in who did nothing but eat and sleep compete with a wealthy lady who had a personal trainer? Within minutes, she was down to her undergarments. Que Tang pulled the duvet over herself, trembling with indignation. "Don't come any closer! I’ll scream! If anything happens that 'cannot be described below the neck,' this chapter will get locked by the censors! Stay back!" Qi Yunan laughed and stood up, pulling a designer dress from her wardrobe and tossing it onto the bed. "Put it on. Didn't you want to watch the ceremony? Or..." she leaned in close, "did you want something else to happen between us?" Que Tang shoved her aside, grabbed the dress, and bolted for the bathroom. Once changed, the Eldest Miss escorted her down to the ballroom before disappearing to mingle with the high-society guests. Que Tang, feeling out of place among the tycoons and politicians, retreated to a corner to focus on the buffet. As she was eating, she found herself surrounded by a group of her classmates. "You beggar, how did you sneak into the Eldest Miss’s engagement?" Classmate A sneered. "She probably crawled through a vent. And look at those clothes—she definitely stole them!" Classmate B added. Que Tang tried to push past them, but someone grabbed her arm. "Just a commoner, yet you dare look at us like that?" Classmate C hissed. "Let’s take her away. We can't let her pollute the atmosphere of the engagement," Classmate D suggested. Before she knew it, the group had dragged Que Tang out of the manor and toward the back of the mountain, stopping only when they reached the edge of a sheer cliff. "...What kind of setting is this? Why is there a cliff right behind a mansion in the middle of the city?" Que Tang stared down into the abyss. "And isn't this bullying a bit extreme? Did the author really write this?" "Yes, they did, Meow~" Xiao Xianggu appeared again. "In the original plot, the Female Lead was invited here, and these classmates, under the secret orders of the Female Supporting Character, were supposed to push her off. But the Male Lead was supposed to realize she was missing, ditch the engagement, and save her. Meow~" "But I don't have the Male Lead’s protection! I’m going to die!" Que Tang realized with horror. Back at the manor, Mr. Qi stood on the stage, beaming. "Welcome, everyone. Today is the engagement of my daughter and the Ren family’s son, Aotian." Qi Yunan and Ren Aotian stood to the side. Their expressions were polar opposites. Qi Yunan was a mask of cold indifference, while Ren Aotian hadn't stopped smiling. The "power of love" had seemingly softened the once-arrogant young master. "Now, please witness the exchange of rings." Qi Yunan took the ring from a waiter’s tray. Ren Aotian took the other, sliding it onto her finger. "You’re mine now," he said with a dashing smile. The crowd erupted in applause. Qi Yunan didn't respond. Her eyes were frantically searching the crowd for a specific face. "Hey, hey, let’s talk this out!" Que Tang pleaded at the cliffside. "We’re classmates! Murder is a serious crime!" She was inches from the edge. "We won't let you ruin the Eldest Miss’s night," Classmate A said coldly. "Die, you commoner!" In the chaos, someone shoved her. Que Tang’s foot slipped on the loose gravel, and she tumbled backward into the void. "Que Tang!" Through the rushing wind, she thought she heard Qi Yunan’s voice, a heart-wrenching, soul-shattering scream. "Meow~ Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission and achieving Hidden Ending #1: *Best Friends are Just Friends.*" Que Tang hit the bottom with a sickening thud. When she opened her eyes, she was back in the windowless, high-end apartment, lying on the soft bed. She immediately sat up and snatched Xiao Xianggu, who was resting on her stomach. "Why didn't you warn me about the cliff?! You almost scared me to death!" "Because you were going to be fine, Meow~" The cat blinked its large, innocent eyes. "I’ll always ensure your safety. Besides, how often do you get to experience the thrill of falling? It’s a rare life experience!" Once again, Que Tang found her anger melting away in the face of the cat’s sheer cuteness. "The Host earned a total of 6,500 points this time. Only 93,500 to go! Meow~" Que Tang paused. "Wait. I got 5,000 for that weird hidden mode, but only 1,500 for the actual mission?! How long is it going to take to reach 100,000?!" "Your math is off, Meow," the cat said, pulling a piece of dried fish out of nowhere. "500 for the mission, 1,000 for the hidden ending. That’s how it works. Meow~" Que Tang stared at the ceiling, her soul feeling as empty as her point balance. She flopped back onto the bed, defeated. *** **GLOSSARY OF NEW TERMS** | Chinese | English | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 小苹果 | Little Apple | A viral Chinese pop song by Chopstick Brothers. | | 邪魅狂狷 | Evil-charming / Wicked and arrogant | A common descriptor for "overbearing" or "bad boy" characters. | | 脖子以下不能描写 | Cannot be described below the neck | A meta-joke about Chinese internet censorship (Jinjiang) regarding physical intimacy. | | 好朋友只是朋友 | Best Friends are Just Friends | A hidden ending title, likely a reference to a song or trope. |